ST. LOUIS – Two Missouri State football standouts were named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team, the league announced Tuesday (Dec. 3). Dylan Cole (RFr., OLB, Rogersville, Mo.) and Brandon Cheaton (Jr., S, Middletown, Del.) represent the Maroon and White on this year’s team, which includes 22 first-year players from the league’s 10 programs.

Cole started all 12 games for the Bears this year and finished fifth on the club with 71 total tackles, including 30 solo stops. He notched 6.0 tackles for loss and had one interception during his rookie campaign. He also had three games with double-figure tackles, including 12 in the season finale against UNI (Nov. 16) as well as 10 apiece at South Dakota (Oct. 5) and against Central Arkansas (Sept. 21). He was named MSU Media Player of the Week for his efforts against Central Arkansas and was tabbed MSU Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 26 for the team’s win at Western Illinois. Cole, who redshirted a year ago was on the 2012 MVFC Honor Roll and was named MSU Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year last season.

Cheaton, a former Delaware standout, made 9 starts and accounted for 61 tackles and 27 solo tackles in his first season at MSU. He snagged 2 interceptions, including a 43-yard return in the win against Illinois State on Sept. 28 and tallied a pair of sacks. He also registered a season-high 10 tackles against UNI in the season finale on Nov. 16 and posted 9 stops each against Iowa (Sept. 7) and at South Dakota (Oct. 5). His 7 solo stops at Iowa in his MSU debut were a season high.

Since the league began recognizing an All-Newcomer Team in 1994, Missouri State has had 69 players named to the team – second only to Western Illinois’ 73.

The MVFC announced its All-MVFC team Monday and will release its All-Academic Team on Wednesday.

MSU head coach Terry Allen and his staff will recognize the club’s award winners and 21 seniors on Sunday, Dec. 8 at Plaster Student Union on the Springfield campus. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the program and buffet-style dinner starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for just $20 and may be reserved by calling the MSU Football office at (417) 836-5343.